Fruit stemming and coring machine



June 13, 19? a. R. ANDERsoN 3,324,913

FRUIT STEMMING AND CORING MACHINE Original Filed July 2, 1962 llSheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR GERALD R. ANDERSON ATTQRNEY June 33, R96? 5. R.ANDERfiGN 393249913 FRUIT STEMMING AND CORING MACHINE Original FiledJuly 2, 1962 11 Sheets-Sheet g J ENVENTOW GERALD R ANDERSQN June 13, 3%?5. R. ANDERSQN 9 7 1 FRUIT STEMMING AND CORING MACHINE Original FiledJuly 2, 1962 ll Sheets-Sheet J HNVENTQR GERALD R. ANDERSON BY 3 m .ea'

ATTORNEY June E3, 3%? R ANDERSQN 3,324,913

FRUIT STEMMING AND CORING MACHINE Original Filed July 2, 1962 llSheets-$heet 4 a n Ii E mvsmoa I GERALD R. moznsom ATTORNEY June 33,1967 G. R. ANDERSON FRUIT STEMMING AND CORING MACHINE Original FiledJuly 2, 1962 ll Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR GERALD R. ANDERSON m7 fag/WmATTQRNEZV jumi G. R. AND

FRUIT STEMMING AND 00mm; MAC'rHNM Original Filed July 2, 1962 lheets-Sheet 252 I 378 fi E 275 I 5O 257 478 47? 278 GERALD w. amnsmsomBY Q ATTORNEY June i3, 19%? a. R. ANDERSON 3,324,933

FRUIT STEMMING AND (,ORING MACHINE Original Filed July 2, 1962 11Sheets-Sheet mvamow GEFMLD R. ANDERSON June E3, 119%? R. Ammzmom3,324,913

FRUIT STEMMING AND COHING MACHINE Original Filed July 2, 1962 llSheets-Sheet a 27s 298 x E 356 v A I i I 354 1 2% 374 271 373 INVENTORGERALD R. ANDERSON ATTORNEY June 13, 11%? s. R. ANDERSON 3,324,913

FRUIT STEMMING AND CORING MACHINE Original Filed July 2, 1962 llSheets-Sheet f:

136 f 1 245 w 153 240 2400. I 446 243 262 3 I 446 691 26 man 2& I Adam.32? 39s 1 325 I 29 438 243 62 A536 447 ENVENTOR GERALD R. ANDERSONATTQRNEY ll Sheets-Sheet 11 Original Filed July 2, 1962 cam ucvm 00mm am 09% 50mm cow 9mm 000m om BNVENEOW R. ANDERSON GERALD ATTORNE s UnitedStates Patent C FRUIT STEMNIING AND CORING.MACHINE Gerald R. Anderson,Campbell, Califi, assignor to FMC Corporation. San Jose, Calif, acorporation of Delaware Qrlginal application July 2, 1962, Ser. No.206,955, now

Patent No. 3,246,676, dated Apr. 19, 1966. Divided and this applicationMar. 29, 1965, Ser. No. 452,435

Claims. (Cl. 146-52) This application is a division of Ser. No. 206,955,filed July 2, 1962, now Patent No. 3,246,676.

The present invention pertains to an apparatus for processing fruit and,more particularly, to an apparatus for stemming and coring fruitaccurately and without damaging the fruit.

One of the problems involved in the mechanical stemming and coring offruit is the difiiculty and expense in properly timing and driving theapparatus to perform the two cutting operations. Thus, one of theadvantages of this invention is to enable the two cutting operations tobe performed using a minimum of driving and timing apparatus.

The mechanical coring of fruit has also been known prior to the presentinvention, but the known methods and apparatus have not beensufficiently automatic for practical commercial operations.

In this regard, it is to be understood that coring of fruit involves theremoval of seed cells from the seed cell cavity or pocket within thefruit and that the size, particularly the diameter and axial location ordepth, of this pocket varies in accordance with the size of the fruit.Considering a pear, for example, the pocket is closer to the butt end ina short pear than it is in a long pear, and the diameter of the pocketis smaller in a pear having a given outside diameter than it is in apear with a larger outside diameter; the outside diameter referred tobeing the diameter in a plane transverse to the suture plane of thefruit.

Accordingly, successful coring apparatus must automatically sense andaccommodate itself to the various sizes of fruits being handled ifsatisfactory coring is to be obtained. The subject invention isconcerned with the required automatic features in a stemming and coringapparatus.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide anapparatus for stemming and coring fruit in an accurate manner andwithout damaging the fruit.

Another object is to provide an apparatus for stemming fruit withoutundesirable breakage of portions of the fruit.

Another object is to provide an apparatus for removing the seed calls,and otherwise cleaning out, the seed cell cavity of a fruit inaccordance with the size of the fruit.

Another object is to provide a fruit processing apparatus in whichimpact of the apparatus with the fruit during stemming and coringoperations is cushioned.

Another object is to provide an apparatus for processing fruit in aminimum of time and with a minimum of labor.

Another object is to provide an apparatus for processing fruit with aminimum of timing and driving mechanisms.

These, together with other objects, will become apparent upon referenceto the following description and accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a more or less schematic plan of a fruit processing apparatusembodying the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1, saidapparatus including stemming and coring units which are seen in FIG. 2.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, schematic fragmentary isometric of a portion ofthe apparatus in FIG. 2 showing only one stemming unit and one coringunit and with parts being broken away for illustrative clarity.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are schematic isometric views of an oscillating frameand vertically reciprocating brackets, respectively, used in theapparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary, vertical section of the apparatus ofFIG. 1 showing, in particular, details of a stemming unit and showingonly an outline of a coring unit.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary vertical section of a lower portionof a stemming unit as it operates on a pear to remove the stern thereof.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary vertical section of the apparatus ofFIG. 1 showing a stemming unit and a coring unit but incorporating moreof the details of the coring unit than in FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a still further enlarged, fragmentary, longitudinal section ofa coring unit as employed in the subject apparatus.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged, transverse section taken on a plane at a positionrepresented by line 8-8 in FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged, transverse section taken on a plane at a positionrepresented by line 9-9 in FIG. 7.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged, transverse section taken on a plane at aposition represented by line 10-10 in FIG. 7.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged transverse section taken on a plane at a positionrepresented by line 11-11 in FIG. 7.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged transverse section taken on a plane at a positionrepresented by line 12-12 in FIG. 7.

FIG. 13 is an enlarged transverse section taken in a plane at a positionrepresented by line 13-13 in FIG. 7.

FIG. 14 is an enlarged, fragmentary longitudinal vertical section of theapparatus of FIG. 1 showing one of coring unit as it cores a relativelysmall pear.

FIG. 15 is a view similar to FIG. 14 but showing the coring as it coresa relatively small pear.

FIG. 16 is a cam chart showing the relationships between the carrierframe, the stemming tube, and the stem ejector rod, all as used in thesubject apparatus, during one cycle of operation of the apparatus.

Before describing the detailed structure of the present apparatus, itwill be helpful to point out certain main components of the apparatusand their general association. Thus, with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, afruit supply conveyor C continuously conveys fruit past stemming andcoring stations 81 and 82 in the direction of arrow 73. A carrier frameF swings fore and aft above the conveyor in timed relation to theconveyor and mounts a main support bracket B which moves up and down intimed relation to the movements of the carrier frame. A stemming unit SUis mounted on the main support bracket and thus moves upwardly anddownwardly with this bracket so as to stem fruit at the stemmingstation. A coring unit CU is supported by the main support bracket whichlowers the coring unit at the coring station into coring position in astemmed fruit and subsequently lifts the coring unit into retractedposition. After the fruit is cored, it is discharged by the conveyor,but, just prior to discharge, it is unseated from the conveyor by afruit lifter L.

Referring in greater detail to the drawings and to the subjectapparatus, a main frame 25 (FIGS. 1 and 2) is provided having pairs offront and rear legs 26 (FIG. 2) on opposite sides of the frame. Theframe also provides horizontal upper side braces 28; intermediate sidebraces 29, 30 and 31; and lower'side braces 32 which rigidlyinterconnect front and rear legs on corresponding sides of the frame.The upper braces include forwardly projecting mot-or support portions33, and a horizontal platform 34 is mounted on these support portions.The

frame also includes a conveyor support portion 35, which is onlypartially illustrated at the lower left in FIG. 2. In actual embodimentsof the present invention, the conveyor support portion projects rearwardfrom the rear legs a distance equal to about twice the distance betweenthe front and rear legs of the frame.

Conveyor shaft, and front sprockets, not shown, are keyed to oppositeend portions of the drive shaft. Endless chains 46 are trained aroundthe front sprockets and also around rear sprockets, not shown, thelatter being mounted on a rear shaft, not shown, but supported on theconveyor support portion in rearwardly spaced relation to the rear legs26. Elongated flights 48 (FIG. 3) interconnect the chains and extendtransversely of the frame, with each flight having a pair of alignedholes 49 in each end portion thereof.

The fruit conveyor C also includes a plurality of fruit supporting cups(FIG. 1) integrally formed in each of the transverse flights 48. Thecups of each flight constitute a row of cups extending transversely ofthe conveyor with the spacing between adjacent cups in each row beingsubstantially the same. Considering all of the flights, there are aplurality of lanes of cups with each lane including longitudinallyaligned cups of the several flights and with the spacing betweenadjacent cups in each lane being substantially the same. The illustratedembodiment of the subject invention provides eight lanes of cups, but itis to be understood that the invention is not limited to this number oflanes nor even to a plurality of lanes.

The configuration of each fruit supporting cup 55 has significance andis best illustrated in FIG. 5. Each cup has an inverted, frusto-conical,inner wall 58 circumscribing an upper fruit receiving socket and a loweropening 58'. The inner wall is divided into upper and lower portions 59and 60, respectively, defining acute angles 61 and 62 with a verticalline. Although angles 61 and 62 of respectively fifteen and thirty-fivedegrees have proved to be successful, the invention is not limited tothese specific angles.

Returning now to otherfeatures of the fruit conveyor C (FIG. '2), it hasan upper horizontal run positioned between the intermediate side braces30 and a lower run 71 extending rearward from the front sprockets arounda chain tightener 72 (FIG. 2) to the rear sprockets, not shown, on thesupport portion 35. The conveyor is driven, in a manner to be described,so as to move the upper run in a forward direction, as indicated by thearrow 73.

The upper run 70 of the described conveyor C is employed to carry fruit(FIG. 3) past stemming and coring stations 81 and 82, respectively,(FIGS. 2 and 3) above the conveyor. Although the principles of thesubject invention are applicable to various fruits, the presentembodiment is conveniently described as applied to the stemming andcoring of pears. For identification and subsequent reference, each pear(FIG. 5) to be processed has a blossom or butt end 85, an opposite stemend 86, an internal seed cell 87 located within a core cavity or pocket88, and a stem 89. The pears are individually supported in the cups 55with their stem ends down. If the stern ends of these pears aresufliciently narrow, they project through the openings 58'.

It is of interest to note that in actual practice of the subjectinvention, the pears 80 are peeled before being stemmed and cored andare automatically fed into the cups 55. Of course, the pears can bemanually placed in 4 the cups by attendants, not shown, standingalongside of the conveyor support portion 35 (FIG. 1). Also, althoughthe pears need not be peeled prior to stemming and coring according tothe subject invention, peeling, especially if by lye dipping, does makethem slippery, a characteristic that aids in positioning the pears intheir cups.

That is, as each pear travels on the conveyor toward the stemmingstation 81, it lies against its respective cup wall 58 (FIG. 5) with itsstem blossom axis usually slightly inclined with respect to the verticalaxis of the cup. In a manner to be subsequently described, each pear ismoved into coaxial alignment with its cup axis during the stemming andcoring operation and surface slipperiness does facilitate such movement.

Carrier frame The carrier frame F (FIG. 3) is supported by the mainframe 25 above the upper run 70 of the fruit conveyor C for forward andrearward oscillating movement. The carrier frame extends the full widthof the conveyor and is located above the stemming and coring stations 81and 82. For supporting the carrier frame, front and rear pairs of pillowblocks 92 are mounted on the intermediate side braces 29 with the blocksof each pair being in alignment with each other. Parallel front and rearrock shafts 93 and 94 are journalled respectively in the front and rearblocks, the front shaft 93 being in the form of a large diameter tubehaving stub shafts welded in its ends. Two channel shaped support arms96 are welded to and project downwardly from the front shaft 93, whilethe two flat, straps like support arms 97 depend from the rear shaft94;each arm 97 having a split hub 97a secured to the shaft 94.

The carrier frame F includes a pair of lower horizontal side channels100 respectively adjacent to opposite sides of the main frame 25. Eachside channel is pivotally connected to the lower ends of the front andrear arms 96 and 97 on its respective side of the main frame by means ofshort shafts 101, each shaft having a large diameter portion providing ashoulder that abuts one face of the associated channel 100' and athreaded portion which receives a nut to look the shaft on the channel.The arms, the side braces 29, and the side channels 100 are in aparallelogram relationship (FIG. 2) so that during said oscillatingmovement of the carrier frame, the side channels are maintainedhorizontal.

The car-rier frame F (FIG. 3) also has a pair of main upstanding sidechannels rigidly secured to and upwardly extending from the lower sidechannels 100, upper horizontal struts 106 forwardly projecting from theside channels 105, and front upstanding struts 107 rigidlyinterconnecting the horizontal struts and the lower side channels onopposite sides of the frame. It is to be observed that the swingingframe formed by the side channels and the struts is spaced inward of theintermediate side braces 29. An upper spacer channel 109 rigidlyinterconnects the upstanding side channels adjacent to their upper endsand extends transversely of the conveyor C. Rear horizontal alignermounting channels 110 are secured to the upstanding side channels andproject rearward therefrom in upwardly spaced relation to the lower sidechannels 100.

Lower side panels 112 are rigidly connected to and project downward fromthe rear portions of the lower side channels 100. The panels are incommon vertical planes with the side channels 100 and 105, the struts106 and 107, and the conveyor chains 46 on their respective sides of theframe F. A lower horizontal mounting channel 114 extends transverselyabove the conveyor C and rigidly interconnects the panels.

With continued reference to the carrier frame F, a pair of transversechannels 115- and 116 rigidify the forward end of the frame, and ahorizontal upper guide channel 117 rigidly interconnects the upstandingside channels 105 and is in parallel relation'to and below the upperspacer channel 109. An upper guide bar 118 is secured to the guidechannel and extends the full width of the carrier frame. The guide barprovides a plurality of pairs of circular openings 119 spacedlongitudinally therealong.

Upper mounting blocks 122 are secured to the inside surfaces of theupstanding side channels 105 adjacent to their upper ends. Elongatedvertical guide rods 124 have upper ends 125 secured to the mountingblocks by bolts 126 and lower threaded ends 127 secured by nuts 128(FIG. 6) to the lower mounting channel 114. The guide rods are fixed inthe carrier frame in a common vertical plane which is disposedsubstantially normal to and transversely of the conveyor C.

Main support bracket The main support bracket B (FIGS. 1 and 3) ismounted for elevational movement on the guide rods 124 of the carrierframe F. This bracket includes a pair of upstanding angle members 136individually disposed inwardly adjacent to the upstanding side channels105. Upper and lower holders 137 (FIG. 3) are secured to each anglemember 136 and mount vertically aligned bushings 138 therein, thebushings being slidably fitted on the adjacent guide rods 124. Ahorizontal, coring unit support channel 140 rigidly interconnects theangle members 136 between the upper and lower holders 137 and extendstransversely above the conveyor, and two pairs of spaced ears 143 (FIGS.1 and 3) project rearwardly from this channel.

The main support bracket B (FIG. 3) also includes a pair of actuatorsupport portions 146 each of which is made up of three-angle bars 146a,1461: and 146a (FIG. 4) rigidly secured together and projecting forwardfrom one of the angle members 136 in a substantially common planetherewith. A horizontal, actuator support bar 147 (FIG. 4) extendstransversely between the support portions 146 being rigidly secured to ahorizontal brace 146d and an inclined brace 146:: of each portion 146.

In addition, the main support bracket B provides a horizontal uppermounting channel positioned above the lower mounting channel 114 of thecarrier frame F. The upper mounting channel is supported in thisposition by inner and outer, rigid support straps 151 and 152. The twoouter straps 152 have lower ends secured to the upper mounting channel150 and upper ends individually secured to the angle members 136 ontheir respective sides of the support bracket. The two inner straps 151have lower ends secured to the upper mounting channel 150 and upper endssecured to the coring unit support channel 140. Horizontal gussets 154interconnect the lower ends of the angle members 136 and the uppermounting channel 150 for imparting rigidity to the structure. As seen inFIG. 2, above the upper mounting channel 150, the main support bracket Bhas a horizontal, stemming tube mounting bar 156 which has oppositeupright end flanges 157 connected to the angle members 136 of the mainbracket and a horizontal flange 158 is Spaced parallel relation to, butslightly forward of, the upper mounting channel 150.

From the foregoing, it is evident that the main support bracket B iselevationally adjustable on the carrier frame F and is supported forforward and rearward oscillating movement with the carrier frame.Therefore, as the carrier frame swings back and forth with the arms 96and 97, corresponding swinging movement is imparted to the channel 114and the side panels 112 of frame F, and to the mounting channel 150, thestemming tube mounting bar 156, and the coring unit support channel 140of bracket B. The swinging movement of the carrier frame and the mainbracket is, of course, over the stemming and coring stations 81 and 82and the upper run 76 of the .fruit conveyor C. Attention is now directedto the apparatus provided by the subject invention for stemming thefruit 80.

Stemming units The several stemming units SU, (FIG. 3) for cutting outthe stems 89 of the fruit 80, are mounted on the main support bracket B.The stemming units move up and down with the main bracket and back andforth with the carrier frame F. The number of stemming units correspondsto the number of lanes of fruit supporting cups 55; therefore, in thedisclosed embodiment, there are eight stemming units. Inasmuch as all ofthe stemming units are of identical construction and are similarlymounted in the bracket B, only one such unit, is specificallyillustrated in FIG. 3 and described herein.

Thus, each stemming unit SU (FIG. 4) includes an upstanding guide sleeve161 secured to the lower mounting channel 114 with its axis in avertical plane passing through its corresponding lane of fruitsupporting cups 55. A tubular shank 163 projects through the uppermounting channel of the main support bracket B, is secured to a seaterlifter plate 162 above the mounting channel 150, and is slidablyextended downward through the guide sleeve 161. A cushion 167 is securedto the underside of the lifter plate 162 for cushioned engagement of theplate with the mounting channel. A fruit centering and seating cup 164is secured to the lower end of the shank 163 beneath the lower mountingchannel 114 and provides an inner, frusto conical wall 165circumscribing a socket. Preferably, the wall of the seating cup definesan angle 166 (FIG. 5) of approximately forty-five degrees with avertical; however, as in the case of the fruit supporting cups 55, theinvention is not limited to the specified angle of the inner wall. Whenits coaction with the fruit supporting cup is described hereinafter, theimportance of the construction of the seating cup will be appreciated.

Each stemming unit SU (FIG. 4) is also provided with a mounting head 168secured to the mounting bar 156 of the main support bracket B by a bolt169 extended through an ear 170 on the head and through the flange 158.An elongated stemming tube 172, which has an upper end secured to themounting head 168, is slidably fitted down within the shank 163, and hasa lower fruit penetrating end 173. The stemming tube (FIG. 5) providesinner and outer cylindrical walls 174 and 175, the outer wall providinga lower, downwardly convergent, frustoconical bevel 176 terminating in alower knife edge 177.

Still considering one of the stemming units SU, a stem ejection cylinder180 (FIG. 4) is rigidly connected to the mounting head 168; is upwardlyextended threfrom in coaxial relation with the stemming tube 172; andhas an open upper end 181. A piston 182 is slidably fitted in airtightrelation within the cylinder for elevational reciprocating movementtherein. An ejector rod 184 of solid cross section has an upper end 18-5secured to the piston, is axially slidably received within the stemmingtube, and provides a lower end 186 near the lower end 173 of thestemming tube. A piston rod 187 is secured to the piston and extendsupward from the upper end of the cylinder.

It is an important feature of this invention that the stemming tube 172and the ejector rod 184 are in minute, circumferentially spaced relationto each other (FIG. 5) so that an annular air passage 189 is providedtherebetween. As will subsequently be explained in detail, the

stem ejection cylinder 180 (FIG. 4), the piston 182, and

this air passage (FIG. 5) perform an important function in minimizingdamage to the stem end 86 of a pear 80, or other fruit, being stemmed inthe subject apparatus.

Inasmuch as the stemming tubes 172 (FIG. 4) and the stem ejectioncylinders 180 of all of the stemming units SU are secured to the mainsupport bracket B, the tubes and cylinders move elevationally with themain bracket. The ejector rods 184, however, are mounted for elevationalmovement independently of the main bracket and their associatedstemmingtubes and ejection cylinders. For this purpose, an ejectorsupport bracket 195, extending the full width of the conveyor C, hasspaced upper and lower end portions 196 mounted for elevational slidablemovement on the guide rods 124 respectively above and below the upperholders 137 for the main support bracket. Upper and lower cross members198 and vertical bars 198a rigidly interconnect the end portions 196,and rearwardly extended, connecting blocks 197 on the upper cross member198 are individually secured to the upper ends of the piston rods 187.Additionally, the ejector bracket has two pairs of lugs 199 (FIG. 1)which project rearwardly from the lower cross member 198 adjacent toopposite sides of the ejector bracket for use in lowering and liftingthe ejector bracket, in a manner to be described.

When each stemming unit SU is at the stemming station 81, it isvertically aligned with a fruit supporting cup 55 in its associated laneof cups. To insure precise alignment of each stemming unit and a cup atthe stemming station and to maintain this aligment throughout thestemming operation, pairs of elongated flight aligning rods 205 (FIG. 3)are provided adjacent to opposite sides of the carrier frame F. The rodsare slidably received in lateral extensions 110 of the aligner mountingchannels 110, in the upper mounting channel 150, in the lower mountingchannel 114, and in lower rod guides 206 (FIG. 4), the latter beingindividually secured to the mounting panels 112 of frame F below thelower mounting channel 114. The rods have upper heads 208 above theextensions 110 of the aligner channels, lower ends 209 projecting belowthe rod guides 206 when the upper heads are in engagement with orclosely adjacent to the aligner mounting channels 110, and collars 210(FIG. 3) urged into engagement with the upper mounting channel 150 bysprings 212 encircling the rods. The springs have upper and lower endsrespectively bearing against the lateral extension 110' and the collarsof their respective rods. The lower ends 209 (FIG. 4) of the rods 205move downwardly into the aligning holes 49 in each flight 48 of conveyorC when the stemming units SU are aligned with a row of cups 55 in suchflight and the main support bracket B moves down. It is to be noted,however, that the rods yield upwardly against the urgency of the springs212 if the lower ends of the rods are not aligned with the holes 49 andstrike the flights.

As each stemming unit SU (FIG. 4) descends toward an aligned supportingcup 55 therebelow, the fruit seating and centering cup 164 is the firstto engage (FIG. 5) the blossom end 85 of a pear 80 in the supportingcup. It is a feature of the subject apparatus that the seating andsupporting cups 164 then move the pear into an upright position with itsstem blossom axis coaxial with the stemming tube 172; the cups also holdthe pear firmly in this axially upright position during the stemmingoperation. The angles 61, 62, and 166 of the cups are chosen so as toalign and to hold the fruit with maximum effectiveness; optimum anglesfor pears are disclosed above. Ideally, the pears are peeled and wet sothat surface friction between the pear and the cups is minimized.

Each fruit seating cup 164 is spring-urged downward (FIGS. 3 and 4) forholding each pear to be stemmed more dependably in properly seatedposition in its supporting cup 55. In effect, this is accomplished bypulling downwardly with spring tension on each lifter plate 162. Thus, astud 220 projects radially outward from each lifter plate, and a seaterspring 221 has an upper end connected to each stud. The springs hangdownward from the studs and have lower ends attached to a springanchoring bar 222 mounted transversely above the conveyor C, said barhaving opposite ends adjacent to the panels 112. The springs, throughthe lifter plates, press the cushions 167 against the mounting channel150 but, of course, the mounting channel and the main support bracket Bof which the channel is a part, remain free to move down with respect tothe cup 55.

In'order to adjust the tension on the springs 221, and thus the pressureon the pears 80, the anchoring bar 222 is adjustably attached to thepanels 112 of the carrier frame F. For this purpose, therefore, thepanels 112 provide vertical slots 112 (FIG. 4) in alignment transverselyof the conveyor C. An adjustment plate 223 is secured to each paneladjacent to the slot therein, and each plate provides notches 224registering with an upper section of the associated slot. Pins 227project from the ends of the bar and are slidably received in lowersections 227a of the slots. The bar is thereby mounted for guidedelevational slidable movement toward and away from the studs 220,

In addition, arms 229 are rigidly connected to opposite ends of the bar222 and project upward therefrom alongside their adjacent slots 112.Handles 230 (FIG. 3), parallel to the bar 222, provide inner ends 231connected to the arms and intermediate diametrically reduced portionsprojecting through their adjacent slots and adapted to be releasablyfitted in selected notches 224. The handles also have outer enlargedportions on the outer sides of the panels 112.

To adjust the tension on the springs 221, therefore, the handles 230 aremoved upwardly or downwardly through the slots 112' to bring theirintermediate portions opposite to selected notches 224 whereupon theyare moved rearwardly into said notches. It is evident that with thehandles in the lowermost notches, the springs are under greater tensionand apply a greater downward force on the lifter plates 162 and thus tothe seating cups 164 than when the handles are in the uppermost notches.

Coring units In addition to the stemming units SU, the several coringunits CU (FIG. 3) which embody several very important features of thepresent invention, are supported on the main support bracket B and eachcoring unitis individually associated with one of the stemming units.The mounting of the coring units will be described first. A plurality ofcoring unit holders 240 (FIGS. 3 and 6), corresponding in number to thenumber of lanes of cups 55, are secured to the lower mounting channel114 above their respective lanes and forward of the stemming units. Eachcoring unit holder 240 (FIG. 6) includes a vertical plate 240a which hasa pair of spaced upright guide sleeves 241 mounted on the upper cornersof its forward face, only one sleeve 241 being shown in FIG. 3. A lowerabutment 242 projects forward beneath and between the guide sleeves, anda fastening lug 243 extend upward from the lower mounting channel backof the guide sleeves and the abutment,

Each pair of guide sleeves 241 (FIG. 3) of each coring unit holder 240is in vertical, axial alignment with corresponding pairs of openings 119in the upper guide bar 118. Coring unit slide rods 245 are individuallyslidably fitted in aligned openings 119 and guide sleeves 241 forelevational slidable movement relatively to the carrier frame F. A pairof these slide rods is provided for each lane of cups. A horizontalsupport plate 246 (FIG. 3) is secured to the upper ends of each pair ofslide rods, and bonded to the undersurface of each plate 246 is acushion 249 which rests on the coring unit support channel of the mainsupport bracket B. Therefore, the slide rods are moved up and down withthe main support bracket when the support plate and cushion bear againstthe support channel 140.

One coring unit CU is secured to each pair of slide rods 245 forelevational movement therewith. Since all of the coring units are ofidentical construction, only one i such unit is described in detail.Each coring unit (FIG. 7) includes an inverted dampening cylinder 252providing an upper wall 253, a cylindrical side wall 254 circumscribingan open bottom 255, and a lateral tubular member 256 (FIG. 8) in theside wall. Upper and lower pairs of mounting ears 257 (FIG. 8) areextended radially forward from the cylinder 252 and are secured to theassociated pair of slide rods 245 at a point between the upper 1 guidebar 118 (FIG. 6) and the coring unit holder 240. Coring unit compressionsprings 258 (FIG. 6)encircle the slide rods 245 and have opposite endsbearing against the upper guide bar 118 and the ears 257 on the dampening cylinder 252. The purpose of these springs is to cushion upwardmovement of the coring unit and to overcome lag during initiation of itsdownward movement.

A dampening piston 260 (FIG. 7) includes a lower shank 261 connected tothe fastening lug 243 of the adjacent coring unit holder by a pin 262. Acentering rod 264 is secured to the dampening piston and is coaxiallyupwardly extended therefrom. The centering rod is also coaxiallyextended through the dampening cylinder 252 and slidably received in anOpening in the upper wall 253 thereof. A cushion 266 is secured to theupper surface of the dampening piston in circumscribing relation to thecentering rod.

Each coring unit CU also includes a generally cylindrical housing 270,constituting a mounting or supporting member. The housing has an upper,diametrically enlarged portion 271 and a cap 272 secured to the upperportion. The cap provides rear lateral projections 274 (FIGS. 6 and 8)which are releasably secured to the upper mounting ears 257 of theassociated dampening cylinder 252, and the upper portion 271 of thehousing has lower bosses 275 (FIG. 6) which are releasably connected tothe lower mounting ears 257 of each cylinder. Since the ears 257 aresecured to the slide rods 245, the dampening cylinder and the housingare mounted for elevational movement with the slide rods 245, Inaddition, the upper portion 271 of the housing has a forwardprotuberance 278 (FIG. 7) and a lower, internal annular ledge 279.

Further, the housing 270 of each coring unit CU also has a lower,diametrically reduced portion 285 terminating in a lower tubular end286. An upper bearing 287 (FIG. 7) is mounted within the cap 272 and isconcentric with the housing, and a lower bearing 288 is mounted with thelower portion 285 in coaxial alignment with the upper bearing. Anannular water seal 290, preferably of the slinger type, is fitted withinthe housing below the lower bearing. Additionally, the housing has aflange 291 forwardly projecting from its lower portion, and a verticalguide bolt 292, for a purpose to be described, is threaded into thisflange and is selectively adjustable therein.

In addition, each coring unit CU has a coring shaft 296 coaxiallyreceived with the housing 270 and rotatably journalled in the upper andlower bearings 287 and 288 for rotation within the housing. The coringshaft has an upper section 298 within the upper portion 271 of thehousing and a lower tubular section 299 downwardly projecting from theupper section through the lower portion 285 of the housing.

The upper section 298 of each coring shaft 296 includes an upper drivenend 305 fitted in the upper bearing 287 and upwardly projecting throughthe cap 272, an annular shoulder 306 in engagement with the upperbearing, an

upper bore 387 opening into the lower section 299 of the coring shaft, apair of diametrically opposed slots 308 opening into the upper bore, anda lower portion 309 received within the lower bearing 288 and having anexternal annular shoulder 310 in engagement with the water seal 290.Upper and lower snap rings 312 and 313 are connected in circumscribingrelation to the upper section of the coring shaft respectively above theupper and lower bearings. Another snap ring 314 is connected inside ofthe housing 270 and also engages the upper surface of the lower hearing.In this manner, the coring shaft is rotatably journalled within thehousing but is held against axial movement relatively to the housing.

The lower tubular section 299 of each coring shaft 296 includes a lowerend 316 below the lower end 286 of the housing 270, a lower bore 317diametrically larger than and communicating with the upper bore 307, anda pair of diametrically opposed lower slots 318 opening into the lowerbore.

Still further, each coring unit CU includes an elongated coring knife325 positioned within the lower tubular end of the coring shaft 296 inthe plane of the slots 318 and pivotally connected to the shaft formovement in this plane. For this purpose, a knife-mounting pin 326 isextended transversely through the lower end 316 of the coring shaft andbelow the lower end 286 of the housing 270. A retaining ring 327 isfitted in an annular groove in the shaft underneath the pin forreleasably retaining the latter in the shaft. The coring knife has anintermediate shank 328 positioned within the lower bore 317 and throughwhich the mounting pin is passed. The knife also has an arm 329projecting obliquely upwardly from the shank, said arm providing anendwardly opening camway 330 therein. A generally semi-elliptical blade332 which terminates in a fruit penetrating end 334 is formed on thelower end of the knife. The arm 329 and the upper portion of the shank328 are at the elevation of the slots 318 and move through or into saidslots upon pivotal movement of the knife on the pin 326. Although theknife pivots with respect to the coring shaft, it rotates with theshaft.

It is of significance to the present invention that pivoting movement ofeach coring knife 325 is automatically controlled in accordance with thesize of the fruit being core-d. Therefore, in order to control pivotingmovement of the coring knife 325, each coring unit CU is provided with aknife actuating plunger 340 mounted within the coring shaft 296 forelevati-onal reciprocating movement therein. The plunger includes alower cylindrical block 341 which is slidably received within the lowerbore 317 and has a transverse recess 342 receiving the arm 329 of thecoring knife therewithin. A camming pin 344 is mounted in and extendedtransversely of the block and is slidably received in the camway 330.The plunger also includes a cylindrical stem 346 axially upwardlyprojecting from the block and slidably received in the upper bore 307.

Still considering how the pivoting of the coring knife 325 iscontrolled, an inner collar 350 circumscribes and is slidably fitted onthe upper section 298 of each coring shaft 296. A bolt 351 is extendedthrough the inner collar and the slots 308 and through the stem 346 ofthe plunger 34!), and a nut 352 is connected to the bolt. Therefore, theinner c-ollar 358 and the plunger 340 are axially slidable relatively tothe coring shaft 296 but rotate with the coring shaft. An outeradjusting ring 354 circumscribes the inner collar and is connectedthereto by a collar bearing 356. The adjusting ring has a front keyway358 (FIG. 9) extending longitudinally thereof relatively to the coringshaft, and trunnions 359 project outward from the adjusting ringtransversely of the coring shaft.

The collar bearing 356 (FIG. 7) of each coring unit CU includes innerand outer races 362 and 364, respectively, fixed to the inner collar 350and to the adjusting ring 354, and balls 366 captured for rollingmovement between the races. Therefore, the coring shaft 296 and theinner collar are rotatable within the adjusting ring, but the adjustingring and the collar are unitarily movable axially on the shaft.Accordingly, as the adjusting ring 354 moves up and down on the shaft,the plunger 340 correspondingly moves up and down in the shaft so as topivot the knife 325 as the camming pin 344 rides in the camway 330.

The plunger 340, collar 350, and adjusting ring 354 of each coring unitCU are moved up and down, that is, reciprocated axially, relatively totheir coring shaft 296 in the following manner. A pivot pin 370 isextended through the protuberance 278 of each housing 270 in parallelrelation to the trunnions 359 and has opposite ends projecting outwardfrom the protuberance. An actuator control yoke 371 (FIG. 9), withineach housing, has a central portion 373 secured to the pivot pin 370, akey 374 projecting rearward from the central portion and slidablyreceived in the keyway 358 of the adjusting col lar, and arcuate arms376 projecting rearward from the 11 central portion about the adjustingring 354 and are forked to receive the trunnions 359. Rotation of thepivot pin thus causes the adjusting ring to move up and down.

For rotating the pivot pin 370, a knife actuating lever 378 is secured-to an end of each pivot pin 370 by a set screw 379. The lever 378 (FIG.6) is extended radially forward and upward from its housing 270 and ispivotally connected to the actuator support bar 147 of the main supportbracket B by a telescopically adjustable link 380. Whenever the mainsupport bracket B moves vertically relatively to one of the housings,therefore, the lever 378 for such housing rotates its pivot pin. It isimportant to note that such movement of the support bracket B relativelyto a housing 270 causes the latters plunger 340 to move axially in itscoring shaft 296 and its coring knife 325 to pivot between a retractedposition in substantially coaxial alignment with the coring shaft (FIG.7) and a coring position in acute angular relation to the axis of thecoring knife (FIG. 14 or Conversely, it is important to note that aslong as there is no relative elevational movement between the mainsupport bracket and the housing, there is no pivotal movement of thecoring knife. These features are used to advantage in controlling thepivoting of the knife in accordance with the fruit size, as will beseen.

In addition to a coring knife 325, each coring unit CU also provides apair of calyx knives 388 (FIGS. 7 and 13). For mounting the calyxknives, each coring unit has a calyx knife holder 390 (FIG. 7) includingan upper cylindrical portion 391 slidably received within the lower bore317 of the coring shaft 296. The upper portion of the knife holder 390has a transverse recess 393 receiving the shank 328 of the coring knifefor movement therein. The upper portion of the knife holder also has apair of elongated, longitudinally extended slots 395 (FIG. 12) disposedtransversely of and on opposite sides of the recess 393 and receivingthe mounting pin 326 therein. The calyx knife holder is thus mounted forlimited axial movement relatively to the coring shaft, which movement islimited by the engagement of the mounting pin 326 with the knife holderat opposite ends of the slot 395.

Each calyx knife holder 390 also includes a lower tubular portion 397 incircumferentially spaced relation to the shank 328 of the coring knife325 and an annular flange 398 projecting radially outward from saidlower portion. The calyx knives 388 (FIGS. 7 and 13) in each holder aremounted within the lower portion 397 of the holder on opposite sides ofthe coring knife and in a common plane with each other. The calyxknives, therefore, can move axially of the coring shaft 296 (FIG. 7) andthe coring knife but rotate with the latter.

Each coring unit CU also includes a cylindrical, depth gauging orcontrol sleeve 405 which is slidably fitted on the lower portion 285 ofthe housing 270 for axial movement thereon. The sleeve has an upper endportion 406, an car 408 projecting outward from the upper end portionand slidably receiving the guide bolt 292, and a lower end portion 409.The lower portion of the sleeve has an internal annular shoulder 410,upper and lower access openings 412 and 413, and a lower liquid inletport 414. A flushing conduit 416 is connected to each inlet port and hasan opposite end connected to a water manifold 417 (FIG. 6).

Each depth gauging sleeve 405 (FIG. 7) is connected to its calyx knifeholder 390 by an upper washer 420 seated against the shoulder 410 and inengagement with the upper surface of the flange 398, a lower washer 421positioned against the lower surface of the flange, and an intermediatespacing washer 422 positioned between the upper and lower washers andbetween the sleeve and the flange 398. Each sleeve includes an annulardepth gauging or control ring 425 fitted in the lower end portion 409 inengagement with the lower washer and held in this position by bolts 426radially extended through the sleeve and the ring. The ring also has anaccess opening 425' and a liquid inlet port, not shown, in registrationwith the lower openings 413' and 414. The depth gauging ring provides alower, downwardly divergently projecting fruit engaging surface 427terminating in a lower edge 428.

Further considering each depth gauging sleeve 405, a pair of upperspring bearing lugs 435 (FIG. 10) are diametrically outwardly extendedfrom the upper end portion 406 and are circumferentially offset from theear 408. Upper and lower guide lugs 436 (FIGS. 10 and 11) are radiallyoutwardly extended from the sleeve in vertical alignment with each otherin a plane displaced ninety degrees from the plane of the spring bearinglugs 435. Upper and lower dampener guide ears 438 (FIGS. 10 and 12) areextended outward from the sleeve, in diametrically opposite relation tothe upper and lower guide lugs 436, respectively. A dampener controlblock 440 (FIGS. 6 and 11) is radially extended from the sleeve 405between the upper and lower dampener guide ears 438. This block includesa longitudinal bore 441 (FIG. 6) aligned with the guide ears and alateral port 442 communicating with the bore and opening radiallyoutward through the block. Three upright mounting rods 446 (FIGS. 10 and11) are respectively slidably received in the upper and lower guide lugs436 and in the upper spring bearing lugs 435. An upright dampenercontrol rod 447 is slidably received in the guide ears 438 and in thelongitudinal bore 441 of the control block 440. The mounting and controlrods 446 and 447 (FIG. 6) are parallel and project downward from thesleeve 405, and a fruit centering ring 449 is secured to the lower endsof these rods in concentric relation with the sleeve. The centering ring(FIG. 7) has an inner, downwardly diverging frusto-conical fruitengaging surface 450; this surface is at an angle of approximatelyforty-five degrees with a vertical butt, as with the cups 55 and 164(FIG. 5), the invention is not limited to the specific angle referredto. In addition, the ring 449 (FIG. 7) has upper mounting lugs 45]..Compression springs 453 (FIG. 13) encircle two of the mounting rods 446and have upper ends (FIGS. 6 and 7) bearing against their respectivelugs and lower ends engaging the lugs of the centering ring. In thismanner the centering ring is yieldably urged downwardly away from thesleeve. The purpose of the springs is to provide enough force to centerand hold the fruit in the cup 55 for coring as well as to cushion theinitial shock upon engagement of the centering ring with the fruit.

For each coring unit CU, an arcuate centering ring stop plate 454 (FIGS.7 and 10) and a cushion 455 are slidably fitted on a pair of adjacentmounting rods 446 between circumferentially adjacent upper springbearing and guide lugs 435 and 436 and the heads of said mounting rods446. The cushion is in vertical opposition (FIGS. 6 and 7) to theabutment 242 of the coring unit holder 240 associated with itsrespective coring unit. When the cushion engages its abutment, furtherdownward movement of the centering ring 449 is prevented. Therefore, ifthere is no fruit 80 in a cup 55 (FIG. 6), the centering ring isprevented from striking the cup by such limiting of the downwardmovement of the ring. Each dampener control rod 447 also serves as acushionmg or dampening control for its respective coring unit CU andincludes a lower portion 456 of predetermined large diameter and anupper portion 457 of a diameter smaller than that of the lower portion.The diameter of the lower portion is just slightly less than thediameter of the longitudinal bore 441 in the dampener control block 440so as to permit sufficient clearance for the lower portion to slidethrough the bore. The diameter of the upper portion of the control rodis, therefore somewhat less than the diameter of the bore so that whenthe upper portion is within the bore, an annular air passage 458 isdefined between the rod and the block.

A nipple 465 is threaded into the lateral port 442 of each block 440. Aunion 466 is directly connected to the nipple and is connected to thelateral tubular member 13 256 of the dampening cylinder 252 by a hose468. Also, an outer fitting 478 providing a restricted air duct 471 isconnected to the union and thus communicates with the hose and thenipple.

As previously mentioned the seed cell cavity in small fruit is closer tothe butt end of the pear than is the seed cell of large fruit.Accordingly, it is an important feature of the present invention toprovide a mechanism whereby the coring knife 325 will not be projectedas far below the gauge ring 425 when a small pear is in a cup 55 as whena large pear is in that cup.

Accordingly, a control linkage is connected to the sleeve 405 of eachcoring unit so that the axial spacing between the fruit penetrating end334 of each coring knife 325 and the fruit engaging edge 428 of itsdepth gauging ring 425 is automatically controlled in accordance withthe size of the fruit 80 being cored. Specifically, cam followers 475are diametrically outwardly extended from the upper end portion 486 ofeach sleeve 405 at approximately the same elevation as the upperdampener guide car 438. These followers are displaced ninety degreesfrom the ear 408 receiving the guide bolt 292. Coaxial pivot pins 477(FIGS. 6 and 10) are secured in the sleeve 485 by setscrews 476 and arediametrically outwardly extended from the housing in a common verticalplane with the cam followers.

Depth control cam plates 478 are individually mounted on the pivot pins477 for pivotal movement about an axis which extends transversely of thehousing 270. Each plate has a camming slot 479 (FIG. 6) receiving a camfollower 475 and including a first section 481 and a second section 481.The first section of each camming slot has opposite upper and loweredges 482 concentric with the pivot pins 477. The second section of eachcamming slot has opposite upper and lower edges 484 eccentric to thepins 477. The radial spacing between each edge 484 and the pivot pins477 progressively increases from the first section to the outer end 486of each slot.

With the cam followers 475 in the first sections 480 of the slots 479during pivotal movement of the plates 478, there is no movement of thesleeve 405 axially on, that is with respect to, the housing 270. Withthe cam followers in the second sections 481 of the slots (FIG. 14 or15), pivotal movement of the cam plates causes the sleeve to moveaxially on the housing between an uppermost position (FIG. 14), whereinthe cam followers are relatively adjacent to the first sections of theslots, and a lower position (FIG. 15 wherein the cam followers abut theouter ends 486 of the slots.

For controlling pivoting of the cam plates 478, eachcoring unit CU has adepth control yoke 490 (FIG. 10), which includes a pair of arms 491individually secured to the cam plates by a capscrew 4910, a centralportion 492 interconnecting the arms, and an elongated lever 493 rigidlyconnected to the central portion and projecting forward (FIG. 14) fromthe housing 270. The cam plates are pivoted in response to elevationalmovement of their lever.

In order to pivot the levers 493 associated with all of the coring unitsCU in the subject apparatus, brackets 496 are secured to the lower sidechannels 100 and extend downward therefrom. A control shaft 497 hasopposite ends journalled in the brackets and is extended transversely ofthe conveyor C and of the carrier frame F. Links 498 are secured to theshaft 497 in longitudinally spaced relation therealong and areindividually pivotally connected by pins 499 to their respective levers493. As each coring unit travels downwardly, its cam plates 478 arepivoted by its lever 493 so that during an upper part of such travel(just in advance of the FIG. 14 position), the cam followers are in thefirst sections 480 of the slots 479 and the penetrating end 334 of thecoring'knife 325 is in maximum spaced relation to the edge 428 of thering. If the coring unit moves down far enough, the cam followers moveinto the second sections (FIG. 14), and

lever 528 is secured to the rockshaft 525 tion adjacent to the frontlegs 26 the edge 428 progressively moves closer (FIG. 15) to thepenetrating end as downward movement of the coring unit continues. Theedge 428 and said penetrating end are closest together when the camfollowers abut the outer ends 436 of the slots. Accordingly, it will beevident that if a small pear is in the cup, as seen in FIG. 15, thecoring knife will not project as far out of the gauge ring 425 as when alarge pear is in the cup, as indicated in FIG. 14.

It is evident, therefore, that as the pears (FIG. 6) are moved in thedirection of arrow 73 by the conveyor C, they are successively stemmedand cored by the stemming and coring units SU and CU, respectively. Theportions of the pears which are cut out by these units and the flushingwater which is sprayed from the coring unit are collected in a drain pan505 (FIG. 2) mounted in the main frame 25 between the upper and lowerruns 70 and 71 and below the stemming and coring stations 81 and 82.

Fruit lifter After the pears 80 are cored, they continue their travel inthe conveyor C toward the forward drive shaft 41. In order to unseat orlift the pears from the fruit supporting cups 55, the fruit lifter Lcomprises pivot brackets 510 (FIGS. 2 and 3) which are individuallysecured to the lower mounting panels 112. These brackets projectdownward from the mounting panels and are outwardly spaced from the sidebraces 30. The fruit lifter L also includes arms 512 having rear endsindividually pivotally con nected at 513 to the pivot brackets and frontends interconnected by a central angle iron 515 extending underneath theupper run 70 of the conveyor forward of the coring station 81 andrelatively adjacent to the forward drive shaft. A holding bar 516 ismounted on the central angle iron, and a plurality of fruit liftingfingers 518 project upward from the holding bar in alignment with thelanes of cups 55; that is, the number of fingers is the same as thenumber of lanes. Further, the fruit lifter includes wings 519 extendinglaterally outward from the arms adjacent to the central angle iron.

The fruit lifter L is elevationally oscillated by a lifter rockshaft 525(FIG. 2) journalled in the main frame 25 in bearing 526 secured to thefront legs 26 immediately below the side brackets 29. An angulated fruitlifting adjacent to an end thereof. The lifting lever has a rear portion529 in dividually pivotally connected to the wing 519 by a generallyupstanding link 530 and an upper portion 532 mounting a cam follower 533(FIG. 1).

Cam control and operation In order to control the conveyor C (FIG. 1),the carrier frame F, the main support bracket B, the stemming units SU,the coring units CU, and the fruit lifter L (FIG. 2), a camshaft 540(FIGS. 1 and 2) is journalled in the main frame 25 in a substantiallyhorizontal posiand above the side braces 29. The camshaft has a drivenend 541 (FIG. 1) which is coupled to the main drive motor 542 by aspeedchange mechanism 543 and a pulley-belt drive 544. The camshaft alsohas a driving end 546 to which is secured a driving bevel gear 547.

For driving the conveyor C, an inclined, intermediate shaft 550 (FIG. 2)is journalled in bearings 551 secured to the main frame 25 on the sameside thereof as the driving bevel gear 547. An upper driven bevel gear553 is secured to the upper end of the intermediate shaft and is in meshwith the driving bevel gear. A lower'drive bevel gear 555 is secured tothe lower end of the intermediate shaft and is in mesh with the drivenbevel gear 44 associated with the fruit conveyor. Accordingly, when thecamshaft is rotated by the drive motor 542, movement in direction 73 isimparted to the conveyor. In an actual embodiment of the invention, eachflight 48 (FIG. 1) moves a distance of four inches, that is, thedistance between adjacent cups 55 in each lane, for each revolution ofthe camshaft, it being understood that the invention is not limited tothis precise relationship.

In order to oscillate the carrier frame F, a carrier frame cam 560(FIG. 1) providing an annular cam track 561 is secured to the camshaft540. A carrier control lever 562 provides a lower end 563 secured to thefront rockshaft 93 and an upper end 565 mounting a cam follower 566located in the cam track of the carrier frame cam. As the camshaftrotates, the rockshaft 93 is oscillated in opposite directions by thecarrier cam thereby to swing the carrier frame F forwardly andrearwardly. More specifically, the oscillating cycle of the carrierframe is best understood by the carrier frame curve in FIG. 16 and byreference to FIG. 2. At the zero degree abscissa point on the carrierframe curve, the carrier frame is just advanced from its rearwardmostposition with the stemming and coring units SU and CU in verticalalignment with a pair of rows of fruit supporting cups 55. From zerodegrees to just slightly more than two hundred and eighty degrees, thecarrier frame swings forwardly at a constant velocity equal to thevelocity of forward travel of the upper run 70 of the fruit conveyor C.From just before the three hundred degree point to about three hundredand fifty degrees, the carrier frame swings rearwardly, and then, atabout three hundred and fifty degrees, the carrier frame starts itsforward movement again. As the carrier frame swings rearwardlyand startsits forward travel, the upper run of the conveyor continues to moveforwardly so that the stemming and coring units are repeatedly indexedover successive pairs of spaced rows (indicated by X in FIG. 6) of cupsholding pears 80 to be stemmed and cored.

In order to control the elevational movement of the stemming unit SU, apair of stemming tube cams 570 (FIG. 1) are mounted on the camshaft 540on opposite sides of the carrier frame cam 560. Each of the stemmingtube cams has an annular cam track 571. A stemming tube rockshaft 573(FIGS. 1 and 2) is journalled in the main frame 25 in rearwardlyupwardly spaced, substantially parallel relation to the camshaft.Stemming tube lifting levers 575 are secured to the stemming tuberockshaft and include cam end portions 576 projecting forward over thecamshaft and rearwardly projecting unit end portions 577. Cam followers578 are individually mounted on the cam end portions and areindividually received in the cam tracks 571 of the stemming tube cams.Adjustable hanging links 579 (FIG. 1), which have adjustable eye membersthreaded on each end, are pivotally connected at their upper ends to theunit end portions of the lifting levers and individually pivotallyconnected at their lower ends between the pairs of spaced ears 143(FIGS. 1 and 3) on the coring unit support channel 140 of the mainsupport bracket B. Therefore, as the rockshaft 573 (FIG. 2) isoscillated in response to rotation of the camshaft 540, the main supportbracket B is moved up and down on the guide rods 124 (FIG. 3). Thedirect effect of lowering the main support bracket is to lower eachseating cup 164 against a pear in a cup 55 and then to thrust thestemming tube 172 downwardly through the pear; lifting the bracket Bwithdraws the tube and lifts the seating cups. Indirectly however, thiselevational movement of the main support bracket also controls themovement of the coring unit CU since the latter is supported on thechannel 140. The cam-controlled travel of the stemming tube, asillustrated by the stemming tube curve in FIG. 16, will be specificallydiscussed but prior thereto, attention is briefly directed to thecontrol of the stem ejector rod 184 (FIG. 4). g

A stem ejector cam 585 (FIG. 1) is secured o the camshaft 540 betweenone of the stemming tube cams 570 and the carrier f-rame cam 560, itbeing noted that the ejector cam also has an annular cam track 586. Ahorizontal ejector rockshaft 588 is journalled in the main frame 25 inforwardly and upwardly spaced parallel relation to the stemming tuberockshaft 573. Outer unit support arms 589 have front ends rigidlyconnected to the rockshaft 588 and rear ends individually pivotallyconnected to the pairs of lugs 199 (FIGS. 1 and 3) on the ejectorbracket 195 by support links 590. A cross brace 592 (FIG. 1) rigidlyinterconnects the pivot support arms for imparting rigidity thereto. Astem ejector lifting lever 593 is secured to the stem ejector rockshaftbetween the unit support arms and includes a forward portion 594mounting a cam follower 595 received in the cam track 586 and a rearportion 59-7 secured to the cross brace 592. As is believed understood,oscillation of the rockshaft 588 upon rotation of the camshaft causeselevational movement of the ejector bracket 195. The elevationalmovement of the ejector bracket, and thus the stem ejector rod 184 (FIG.4), in relation to the stemming tube 172 is of particular significanceand is discussed at this point.

With reference to the chart in FIG. 16 and to FIGS. 4 and 5, andassuming the stemming unit SU is in vertical alignment with a cup 55supporting a pear to be stemmed, the stemming tube cams 570 (FIG. 1)cause the stemming tube 172 (FIG. 4) and thus the seating cup 164 tomove downwardly toward the pear, it being noted that when the carrierframe F is at its rear zero degree position, the stemming tube hasalready begun its downward movement. The seating cup first engages thepear, and the cooperative engagement of the cup walls 58 and 165 withthe pear centers and seats the pear in the cup 55; the springs 221 aidin seating the pear and in maintaining downward movement of the cup164,,the shank 163 and the lifter plate 162 is thereby arrested. Thestemming tube continues downward and, when the carrier frame is at itsone hundred and forty degree position, the stemming tube has movedthrough the lower opening 58' (FIG. 5) in the cup 55 and, therefore, hasout completely through the pear around the stem 89 thereof and hasemerged through the stem end 86. The stemming tube continues to traveleven farther downwardly, reaching its lowermost point when the frame hasadvanced to approximately its one hundred and seventy degree position(FIG. 16). The stemming tube is then moved upwardly, it being noted thatas the stemming tube is being withdrawn from the pear, the seating cupholds the pear in the cup to prevent its being lifted by the tube. Whenthe mounting channel engages the cushion 167, the seating cup moves upwith the stemming tube. The tube remains at an upper dwell from aboutthree hundred to about three hundred and forty degrees while the carrierframe swings rearwardly. The stemming tube starts its next movementdownwardly at about three hundred and forty degrees as the carrier framestarts to move forwardly.

Considering the ejector rod curve in FIG. 16, the ejector rod 184 (FIG.4) is moved downwardly by the ejector cam 585 (FIG. 1) at approximatelythe same rate (FIG. 16) as the stemming tube 172 (FIG. 4) until justafter the stemming tu-be penetrates the pear 80; this point isrepresented on the cam chart in FIG. 16 by the thirty degree position ofthe carrier frame F. From approximately thirty degrees to approximatelyone hundred and forty degrees, the ejector cam moves the ejector rodupwardly relative to the downwardly moving stemming tube. The ratherabrupt upward movement of the piston 182 (FIG. 4), which is attached tothe ejector bracket 195, with respect to the downward movement of thecylinder 180, which is attached to the stemming tube, creates a partialvacuum in the cylinder below the piston and in the annular air passage189 (FIG. 5) between the stemming tube and ,the ejector rod. Thispartial vacuum is created during the time the stemming tube is movingthrough the stem end 86 of the pear. By reducing the pressure belowatmospheric pressure internally at area 89' on the central core of fruitincluding the stem 89, as the stemming e Cuts through the pear andseparates this core from such seating during the stemming action.Further 17 the fruit, the stem end of the pear is held upwardly againstand integral with the pear. Therefore, the stemming tube cuts a cleancylindrical core of fruit out of the pear and does not break off thestem end of the fruit.

With the subject invention, the stemming tube 172 can be sharpened as at176, 177 on the outside of the tube rather than on the inside andtherefore can be made more economically than if inside sharpening werenecessary. Prior to the subject invention, however, inside sharpeningwas resorted to in order to minimize lateral forces exerted by thestemming tube on the stem end portion 86 of the fruit 80. Although thebeveled surface 176 does impose some outward force on the stem end ofthe fruit, this force is more than counteracted by the described suctionapplied at 89' to the stem end portion.

After the stemming tube 172 is all the way through the pear 80, the stemejector cam 585 (FIG. 1) moves the ejector rod 134 (FIG. 4) downwardlyrelatively to the stemming tube from the one hundred and seventy degreeposition (FIG. 16) to about the two hunrded and twenty degree positionof the carrier frame F. Thus, the cylindrical core of fruit includingthe stem 89 within the stemming tube is forced out of the stemming tubeby the ejector rod, whereupon the core falls into the drain pan 505(FIG. 2). Thereafter, the stem ejector rod is moved upwardly and alsoexperiences a dwell period (FIG. 16) along with the stemming tube beforeit starts its downward travel again.

As indicated above, elevational movement of the coring units 238(FIG. 1) are controlled by the stemming tube cams 579. However, forrotating the coring knives 325 (FIG. 2), a coring knife motor 698 ismounted on the platform 34. The coring knife motor is coupled to theupper driven ends 365 (FIG. 7), of the coring shafts 296 by separateflexible shafts 601 (FIGS. 1 and 7).

In describing the operation of one of the coring units CU (FIG. 14), itis assumed that the coring unit is in vertical alignment with a pear 86to be cored in a cup 55 and that the coring shaft 296 (FIG. 7) andcoring knife 325 are rotating. As the main support bracket B movesdownwardly (FIG. 3), it lowers the coring unit since the weight of thelatter is borne by the channel 144 of said bracket. The centering ring449 (FIG. 14) is the first part of the coring unit to engage the pear,and it does so at the blossom end 85, axially centering and holding thepear in cooperation with the cup 55, as above described.

Initial engagement of the coring unit CU with the pear 80 is cushionedby the springs 453 and also by the dampening cylinder 252. The latteroperates in this manner: During initial downward movement of the coringunit, the dampening piston 264i is outside (FIG. 6) of the dampeningcylinder and the upper portion 457 of the dampener control rod 447 iswithin the dampener control block 440 so that no dampening of downwardmovement is imposed. About three quarters of an inch before thecentering ring 449 contacts the pear, the piston enters the cylinder andforces air out of the port 256, and the lower portion 456 of the controlrod enters the block. Since the lower portion of the control rodsubstantially fills the longitudinal bore 441 in the block,substantially all of the air forced out of the dampening cylinder by thepiston fiows from the hose 468 through the union 466 and the restrictedair duct 471 of the outer fitting 470. Therefore, since movement of airout of the cylinder 252 by the piston 260 is restricted, downwardmovement of the coring unit is resisted so as to prevent crushing of thepear by sudden impact of the weight of the coring unit.

After the centering ring 449 contacts the pear 30, the housing 270 andthe depth gauging sleeve 495 still continue to move downward because ofthe continued downward travel of the main support bracket 135, therebycompressing the springs 453 (FIG. 14) and inserting the knife 325 intothe 'bore of the pear, said bore having been provided by the stemmingtube 172 (FIG. 4) at the stemming station 81. During the downward travelof the coring unit as described so far, the knife is in its retractedposition (FIG. 7) since there has been no relative movement between themain bracket and the coring unit, and therefore, there has been nopivotal movement of the knife actuating lever 378 relative to thehousing.

As previously emphasized, the location of the knife 325 axially withinthe pear and the extent of outward pivoting of the knife within the peardepend on the size of the pear and are two of the most importantfunctions performed by the subject apparatus. It will be evident,particularly by comparing FIGS. 14 and 15, that the blossom end of apear that is relatively long or has a large diameter projects fartherupward from the cup 55 (FIG. 14) than the blossom end of a pear that isrelatively short or has a small diameter (FIG. 15). In fact, the blossomend of a small pear may even be below the upper rim of the cup, as inFIG. 15.

If the pear is relatively large (FIG. 14), for example, the camfollowers 475 just barely enter the second sections 481 of the cammingslots 479 during continued downward movement of the housing 270 andsleeve 405, causing the lower edge 428 and the fruit engaging surface 42of the sleeve to move slightly toward the penetrating end 334 of thecoring knife 325 by a fraction of an inch. When the fruit engagingsurface 427 rests against the blossom end 85 of the pear 80, therefore,the knife projects relatively deeply into the pear so that it is fittedwithin the seed cell 87 of the large pear.

If a relatively small pear 80 is in the cup 55 (FIG. 15) the camfollowers 475 move farther onto said second slot sections 481 and mayeven move into engagement with the outer ends 486 of the camming slots479 whereupon the lower edge 428 and the fruit engaging surface 427 movecloser to the penetrating end 334 of the knife 325. In this instance,when the fruit engaging surface rests against the blossom end 85 of thepear, the knife projects only a slight distance into the pear but iscorrespondingly fitted within the seed cell of the small pear. From thisdescription, it is evident that the amount of movement permitted by thedepth control sleeve 405 relative to the knife is predetermined in thedesign of the slots 479, the cam followers 475, the levers 493, andasscciated structure, to correspond to the locations of the seed cellswithin the usual sizes of the pears being processed.

After the knife 325 is located in the proper axial position with respectto the pear 80, it is necessary to swing, or expand, the knife outwardlyso that it can cut out the seed cell 87. Since larger pears have largerseed cells than smaller pears, it is necessary to swing the knifefarther out in large pears than in small pears. To understand how thesubject apparatus swings the knife out just the proper amount, it isfirst to be noted that if a large pear is being processed, the downwardtravel of the housing 270 is stopped sooner than when a small pear isbeing processed because in the former instance, the surface 427 of thesleeve 405 contacts the pear sooner. Thus, just as soon as downwardmovement of the housing is stopped, the knife actuating lever 378 swingsdownwardly relatively to the housing since the levers downward pivotingmovement follows downward movement of the main support bracket B (FIG.6), it being noted that said support bracket continues to movedownwardly after the housing has stopped its downward movement. Theimportant point to understand is that since the housing stops soonerwith large pears than with small pears, the knife actuating lever swingsthrough a greater are with large pears than it does with small pears.This can be visualized in FIGS. 14 and 15 by comparing the angles of thelever 378 with the horizontal channel 100. The net result, therefore, isto impart greater pivotal movement to the knife with larger pears thanwith smaller pears. Once

4. AN APPARATUS FOR STEMMING AND CORING FRUIT COMPRISING A MAIN FRAME;MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME FOR CONVEYING FRUIT IN A PREDETERMINEDFORWARD DIRECTION ALONG A SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL PATH; A CARRIER FRAMEMOUNTED IN SAID MAIN FRAME ABOVE SAID CONVEYING MEANS FOR FORE AND AFTOSCILLATING MOVEMENT; MEANS FOR STEMMING FRUIT; A BRACKET MOUNTED FORELEVATIONAL MOVEMENT ON SAID CARRIER FRAME AND SUPPORTING SAID STEMMINGMEANS FOR MOVEMENT TOWARD AND AWAY FROM SAID CONVEYING MEANS INTO ANDOUT OF STEMMING ENGAGEMENT WITH FRUIT ON SAID CONVEYING MEANS, SAIDSTEMMING MEANS INCLUDING MEANS FOR APPLYING SUCTION TO THE STEM OF EACHFRUIT DURING STEMMING THEREOF TO MAINTAIN SAID STEM INTEGRAL WITH SAIDFRUIT UNTIL SAID STEMMING MEANS HAS COMPLETELY SEPARATED A CENTRALSEGMENT OF FRUIT INCLUDING THE STEM FROM THE FRUIT; MEANS FOR CORING THEFRUIT; A SUPPORT GUIDABLY MOUNTED IN SAID CARRIER FRAME FOR ELEVATIONALMOVEMENT, SECURED TO SAID CORING MEANS, AND RELEASABLY RESTED ON SAIDBRACKET FORWARDLY OF SAID STEMMING MEANS WHEREBY SAID CORING MEANS ISSUPPORTED FOR ELEVATIONAL MOVEMENT WITH SAID STEMMING MEANS INTO AND OUTOF ENGAGEMENT WITH THE FRUIT WHICH HAS BEEN STEMMED, SAID CORING MEANS